Mica Separating from Cabinet

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 14 Jun 2018 8:10 pm

I removed the pad from my 2008 SD-10 Carter. Was really getting into the way it felt and sounded without the pad. It's subjective for sure, but seems like the body is more resonant without the pad. I LOVE this guitar (thanks, Damir!).

When I moved the guitar last night my hand brushed past the near edge of the body, and the formica was lifting away from the wood on top of the deck. I'm afraid this piece of mica will get snagged and break. It needs to be reattached. In the mean time the pad is back on the guitar to ensure the mica stays down.

Do I need to remove the entire piece to properly reattach it? How can I do that without breaking it? What kind of adhesive should I use? Hopefully there is something that allows time to position the formica.

This piece hangs over the rear edge of the deck just enough to be dangerous. This will always be problem. Can I trim or radius the edge after recementing it?

Tim Herman · Post by **Tim Herman** » 14 Jun 2018 8:55 pm

I will be watching this thread for the answer you get. I have 2 Carter SD 10 guitars. The older one (96) has the same issue you are describing.

John Swain · Post by **John Swain** » 15 Jun 2018 5:50 am

Sometimes you gently pry up the loose mica and squirt some lacquer thinner underneath, and the contact cement will reattach. At least worth a try. Lacquer thinner not paint thinner!

John Palumbo · Post by **John Palumbo** » 15 Jun 2018 12:02 pm

I would use a heat gun along with a stiff putty knife. Start where the laminate is coming loose apply heat from the gun, while at the same time using the putty knife to lift/ pry off the laminate while you are working from one long end to the other. Be careful and go slow, as not to break or crack the laminate. Then use an adhesive remover to remove the existing adhesive from both surfaces. Then re-apply contcact adhesive to both surfaces, position in place and gently tamp in and your done. I had to do this on my Carter where the laminate was peeling off the back metal apron. Was not difficult, but I'm a little familiar with working with laminates. Good Luck

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 15 Jun 2018 12:10 pm

Good advice from John Palumbo. As one who has tried short cuts on re-gluing loose mica, it's best to take it all off and re-glue the piece. It will save you lots of frustration in the end. One time, with a good contact cement, and you'll be done with it for good.

Just remember most good contact adhesives bond almost instantly, so you have to place it correctly when putting it back in place.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 15 Jun 2018 12:14 pm

...... and then clamp it overnight.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 15 Jun 2018 5:38 pm

From one who has done it the wrong way do it the right way like John says. It took forever to clean up the mess I made.

Mike Wheeler · Post by **Mike Wheeler** » 15 Jun 2018 5:57 pm

All good advice, but.....

You're not applying the mica to a countertop. Just sticking the pieces together won't be enough. It's going on a musical instrument, so it has to be tightly clamped so as to make the mica "one with the wood", so to speak. Lots of clamps are called for.

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 15 Jun 2018 6:12 pm

I saw something about a roller.

As for removing the old adhesive... lacquer thinner, or acetone?

John Palumbo · Post by **John Palumbo** » 15 Jun 2018 6:49 pm

Lacquer thinner to remove old adhesive & Yes a roller is a nice tool:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/POWERTEC-1- ... DAodiUcC2g

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 15 Jun 2018 8:10 pm

Something else to consider. Since the mica has screw holes from the pad attachment, now might be a good time to replace that piece. Looks like black in your other photos, but it's probably a standard cabinet laminate.

You could have a good cabinet shop match it up and glue it on for you. Probably pretty reasonable and save you the trouble and expense of buying contact cement and tools.

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 15 Jun 2018 8:46 pm

Jerry, that's a smart suggestion. The guitar is black, should be easy to match. If I do this myself I would need to trim the edge with a router, since the existing piece is too big. That step has the biggest risk for collateral damage.

Inspector Harry Callahan said "a man's got to know his limitations."

I found listings for some local cabinet makers. One caught my attention because of the names of the reviewers... Reece, Pahl, Brumley. Seriously? What are the chances of that?

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 15 Jun 2018 8:53 pm

Yes, well I think the laminate is normally trimmed on cabinets after application, so without removing the endplates and body trim, one couldn't very well use a laminate trimmer.... I was thinking may a cabinet shop could measure cut it to exact size but I dunno. I do know it chips easy, so I suppose it would take a proper saw blade or tool.

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 16 Jun 2018 8:50 am

After wrestling with my self-doubts I decided to give this a shot myself.

Will follow John Palumbo's suggestions for removal with a flat blade, and heat gun.

The part that makes me nervous is trimming the edge. As Jerry pointed out, the end-plates will interfere with an edge router. Instead I will measure the overhang, then decide to trim the removed piece with a saw (beware of chipping it), or reduce with flat file or sander after it's reattached. I won't spare the masking tape.

If you have done this with files/sander I would appreciate your input. Any "traps for the unwary?"

Gary L Reed · Post by **Gary L Reed** » 16 Jun 2018 1:21 pm

Dan, If you'd slow down a bit you wouldn't have that problem. You are probably playin it so fast and hard that the glue is melting...

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 17 Jun 2018 9:57 am

Gary, the only fast I do is on the stairs when my wife says, "why don't you go find something to play?"

Gary L Reed wrote:Dan, If you'd slow down a bit you wouldn't have that problem. You are probably playin it so fast and hard that the glue is melting...

I have a lesson with Jim Cohen next Saturday. Not going to start this project until that's done.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 17 Jun 2018 10:19 am

I'd try the glue 'n' clamp fix first. If it goes south, you can always do the laminate replacement.

Dennis Montgomery · Post by **Dennis Montgomery** » 18 Jun 2018 10:54 am

Dan Robinson wrote:...reduce with flat file or sander after it's reattached.

If you have done this with files/sander I would appreciate your input. Any "traps for the unwary?"

I have an old MCI I've been considering replacing the mica on and read through a ton of threads. I remember reading that sanding mica is very dangerous without a respirator because of the tiny particles that can get in your lungs. I know I won't be starting my project without one of those Home Depot paint respirator masks (~$35)

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 18 Jun 2018 6:55 pm

Not trying to hijack a thread, but this situation is similar...
I have a thin chrome decorative strip on the top of the front apron that has come loose. Not the Mica, but I suspect it was glued the same as the Mica, but I'm not sure.
I'm afraid glue would ooze out and make a mess.
Any ideas?

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 18 Jun 2018 7:55 pm

Thanks, Dennis. You got me thinking, so I checked the mfgs. data sheet.

I need to remove about 1/32". Gentle strokes with a fine file should do it. Pretty safe.

Power sander is another can of worms.

"Wear a NIOSH approved dust respirator that is properly fitted and is in good condition when exposed to dust levels above ACGIH permissible exposure limits (10mg/m3 based on an eight hour Time Weighted Average). "

How much is too much? I dunno. Pass the respirator.

Dennis Montgomery · Post by **Dennis Montgomery** » 19 Jun 2018 8:41 am

Dan Robinson wrote: How much is too much? I dunno.

Exactly. You won't know until it's too late

John Brennan · Post by **John Brennan** » 20 Jun 2018 1:47 pm

Hi Dan- I've been doing cabinet and laminate work since the 80's,so I've dealt with stuff like this; if you can lift the sheet a little, use a putty knife to apply some adhesive to both surfaces, let it dry and press and roll it back down. A laminate file works much better than a mill bastard file, just be careful not to cut into the laminate on the apron. I had to do the same thing on my fesse. This adhesive is the same as our big spray system, and it's super strong,but you'd probably have to order it. You can get 3-M spray 77 or 90 from home depot, but it's not as strong. Also,believe it or not, I've used Tite Bond glue to do the same thing on a countertop at work, and it's still holding after 5 years- you just have to clamp it. Here's pics of the glue and file. Good luck!

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Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 20 Jun 2018 5:41 pm

If you use any sand paper to finish smoothing. Glue and tightly staple it to a straight smooth piece of wood so it can be controlled just like a file. This will allow sanding of the laminate edge without the sandpaper rubbing on the laminate face. Just use it with same pattern of strokes like you are filing the edge. Good Luck on the project.

John Brennan · Post by **John Brennan** » 20 Jun 2018 6:15 pm

The file will leave a crisper and more polished edge than sanding; normally after flush trimming, I will use a 7Â° bevel trimmer and follow with filing;the important thing is whether you sand or file is to try to maintain the angle throughout the whole process. It definitely takes some practice, but once you get the hang of it it's pretty easy

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 1 Jul 2018 10:38 am

No tricky gap-filling work will be needed to re-cement this formica. The entire piece was loose. It separated easily with a flat blade.

This might be a clue about who built this Carter in 2008.

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